36th BS

Wagstad Crew

Monument: Lutz-en-Dunois (Eure-et-Loire), France

801st/492nd Honor Roll Listing

MACR 3437

Dedicated descendants Brian Watts and John Connor accomplished a major share of the research on this crew, we thank them for their efforts.

Picture courtesy of John Connor.

Picture Details:
Clockwise: 
M. Eleanor Connor
Lorimer Petersen            (CP)
Isabel Connor
Edward J. Martinez, Jr.     (N) (KIA)
Joseph P. Connor, Jr.       (B) (KIA)
Mary Harris
Gerald Wagstad              (P) (KIA)

Lorimer Petersen flew no missions as a Carpetbagger, he was replaced by Henry N.Walsh, Jr. who was also KIA in the incident.

Enlisted: Brian Watts, nephew of Earl Underwood, located this obituary of his uncle, who like many of those MIA during the war, was judged dead after the legally required year

Earl W. Underwood, Engineer      (KIA)

Brian canvassed all of his relatives and found that all had a little something relating to Earl. Bit by bit he assembled the story for this crew over the last four years (1998-2002). At this time he is still attempting to contact the Martinez family, who may perhaps hold some small bit of further information regarding the crew.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frederick N. Wagner, Tailgunner    (KIA)

Brian Watts contacted the Wagner family and subsequently received these items from them.  Above left, Frederick Wagner is shown at Luke Field, Arizona, in 1942. On the right, the first news of the incident printed in a  local newspaper.

Other Enlisted: 

Cornelius F. O'Leary, Radio Operator    (KIA)

Leo E. Roettger, Dispatcher             (KIA)

Crew Status: Original Anti-Submarine crew, with replacements. 
  
Combat Period: Jan-Mar 1944 (5 missions)

Incident Aircraft: B24D 42-72863

Believed to have been named "Jive Bomber II", it went down over France on the night of 3/4 March 1944. it was the first of the first twelve planes received by the Group from conversion at Tempsford and Burtonwood, on 8 November 1943.

Aircraft Details Credits: Tom Brittan

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